He served as a flight instructor, forward air controller, squadron executive officer, department director, and strategic planner.

In addition to his two Bosnia tours he deployed to the Mediterranean and Red Seas aboard USS Bataan as a member of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, flew across East Asia with VMFA(AW)-332 "Moonlighters", served in East Africa as Combined Joint Task Force Horn of Africa Chief of Plans, deployed with the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade in Operation Iraqi Freedom, and was the Future Operations Officer for Regimental Combat Team-2 in Afghanistan.

Lieutenant Colonel Tharp’s civilian educational experience includes a Bachelors of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Missouri, a Masters in Public Administration from the University of West Florida, a Masters of Military Art and Science from the Advanced Military Studies Program U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and a Masters of Business Administration from The College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, Virginia.

He spent his formative years in Platte City, Missouri and graduated from Camdenton (Missouri) R-III High School.

He has over 2400 flight hours, with 1800 flight hours in the F/A-18 Hornet.

His personal decorations include the Bronze Star, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, three Meritorious Service Medals, Five Air Medals (Strike/Flight), the Navy/Marine Corps Commendation medal, three Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medals, two Presidential Unit Citations, and seven Sea Service Deployment Ribbons.

He is the son of Doctor Judy Tharp of Farley, Mo., and the late Donald Tharp of Platte City, Mo.

He is married to Leanne Crocker Tharp of Virginia Beach, Va. and has three children, Mary Alice, Corey Deane, and Collin James.